Written question asked by Ann Winterton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 April 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 May 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 May 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many herds of cattle were overdue their six or 12-month test for bovine TB in each of the last 12 months; how many herds are overdue their six or 12-month test for bovine TB; when the backlog of bovine TB testing will be cleared; and if she will make a statement. - Inc table.

Answer: Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many herds of cattle were overdue their six or 12-month test for bovine TB in each of the last 12 months; how many herds are overdue their six or 12-month test for bovine TB; when the backlog of bovine TB testing will be cleared; and if she will make a statement. [54492] Mr. Morley: Raw data on overdue six and twelve month bovine TB tests are only available from December 2001, when testing resumed after the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. The figures for December 2001 to March 2002 are set out as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Month Overdue 6-12 month bovine TB tests December 2001 1,369 January 2002 1,289 February 2002 1,261 March 2002 1,077 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. We cannot say yet when the backlog of overdue TB tests will be cleared.

Secondary information